Apparatus for crimping of filamentary materials

ABSTRACT

A crimping chamber is provided having an axially spaced inlet and outlet and intermediate the same radial venting ports. A filamentary material to be crimped is entrained and inserted into the inlet of the chamber with a stream of hot fluid which, upon entry into the chamber becomes vented through the venting ports. Into the chamber in the region of the outlet there is admitted in counterflow to the filamentary material a stream of cool gas which also subsequently vents through the outlet ports, and admitted into this stream of cool gas is a liquid to be finely dispersed therein.

United States Patent r1 1 Baueh i 1451 July 23, 1974 APPARATUS FOR CRIMPING 0F 3,644,968 2/1972 Elliott et al. 2s 1.2

FILAMENTA MATERIALS 3,724,038 4/1973 Chimura et al... 28/1.2

- 3,729,83l 5/1973 Kosuka 23/72 HR [75] Inventor: Ernst Bauch, Bordesholm, Germany v [73] Assignee: Neurnunsterschi Maschinen-und mary Examiner-Louis K. Rimrodt Apparatebau Gesellschaft GmbH, Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker Neumunster, Germany [22] Filed: Feb. 2, 1973 ABSTRACT A crimping chamber is provided having an axially 2 1] App! No 329l89 v spaced inlet and outlet and intermediate the same ra- Related US. Application Datadial venting ports. A filamentary material to be [62] Division of S 214,233, 30,1 7 crimped is entrained and inserted into the inlet of the v I chamber with a stream of hot fluid which, upon entry [52 US. (:1. 2s/1.3 into the chamber becomes vented through the venting [51] Int. Cl ..'D02 1/20 p Into the ham r in th gi of the outl t [58] Field of Search 28/1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 72.1, there is admitted in eeumerflew to the filamentary 28/7212, 7211, 72 HR material a stream of cool gas which also subsequently vents through the outlet ports, and admitted into this [56] References Cited stream of cool gas is a liquid to be finely dispersed UNITED STATES PATENTS therem' .760 1 1971 i 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Olson 28/72 HR PAIENIEMmzszan suman z FIG. 3

APPARATUS FOR'CRIMPING OF FILAMENTARY MATERIALS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This is a division of my U.S.?Pat.application Ser. No. 214,238, filed on Dec. 30, 1971.

The present invention relates generally to the crimping of filamentary materials, and moreparticularly to an apparatus foreffecting such, crimping.

,In a copending application I have alreadydisclosed venting'ports. As a result of the ventingthe filamentary 7 material is more readily deformable (crimpable), especially if it is of a synthetic plastic, and as aresult ofthe venting of thehot gasas it enters the chamber of the incoming increments of the filamentary material lose velocity and tend to resist the newly entering increments of filamentary material which still move at the higher speed imparted to them by'the stream of hot gas exteriorly of the chamber inlet. This push exerted by the successive filamentary material increments upon those already in the chamber and having undergone deceleration, causes the increments in the chamber to assume a wavy configuration, that is to become crimped, forming a plug of such crimped material in the cham ber.

In counterflow to the filamentary material in the chamber there is admitted a stream of cool gas into the chamber in the region of the outlet thereof, so'that the cool gas contacts the filamentary material in the chamber. Preferably the filamentary material which'has been crimped in the chamber is withdrawn through the outlet of the chamber and the incoming cool gas, so that the crimp becomes more or less fixed and withdrawing (with the concomitant tensile stresses upon the filamentary material) becomes possible without destroying or damaging the crimp.

The temperatures at which the hot gas and the cool gas should be kept, that is both temperature ranges and preferred temperatures, are fully disclosed in the aforementioned copending application to which reference may be had for further details. It is also explained in that application that the disclosed method and apparatus provide for a substantially more uniform (and therefore desirable) crimping of filamentary material because precisely definedconditions exist in the crimping chamber.

However, it would appear that further improvements are still possible and, of course, desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, a general object of the invention to provide such further improvements.

More especially, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for crimping of filamentary materials. i

The novel invention provides an improved apparatus for crimping further filamentary materials,'and this apparatus comprises first means surrounding a chamber having axially spacedinlets and outlets andlradial venting ports therebetween. Second means are provided for entraining and inserting with a stream of hot fluid into the inlet afilamentary material -to be crimped, sothat such-materialadvances toward the outlet andFbccOmes crimped whereas the hotfluid ventsradially through the venting ports. Third means admits into the chamber in;the region of the outlet and in counterflow tothe direction of advancement of the filamentarymaterial, a

stream of cool fluid for subsequent radial venting through the ventingports. Fourth means admits into the stream-of cool fluid a liquidfor fine dispersingof the'latter in the stream of coolfluid.

Thepresent invention provides for a particularly effective cooling of the crimped filamentary material and eta yast sy.jmtoyssi,flxi tayrs sith qiw in the filamentary material. Thus, withdrawingof the filamentary material through the outlet does not in any way affect disadvantageously the crimp which has been produced in the filamentary material. ,This is quite in contrast to the prior art where the filamentary material could not be withdrawn but hadto be either pushed out with the hot gas orhad to be permitted to be pushed out by-the force exerted by newly entering filamentary material, so that the plug of expelled filamentary material would fall into asuitable receptacle provided for this purpose at the outlet end of the chamber and would'there be permitted to cool before it could be withdrawn-for winding-up on a bobbin or the like. Even in the aforementioned copending application the crimp produced in the filamentary material in the chamber is not as reliably protected against disadvantageous influences resulting from withdrawal directly out ofthe outlet of the chamber, as is the case in the present invention.

In particular, the liquid which is admitted into the stream of cool gas -will at least inpart become vaporized whereby the temperature of the stream of cool air is further decreased and its specific warmth increased, result-in an enhancement of the cooling effect. The

cooling effect is, furthermore, substantially improved The invention also provides for dissolving in the liq- I uid any desired solids, for instance coloring matter. In this manner, the crimped filamentary material can already be colored or treated with other suitable materi als'during the crimping, and in particular it is possible to use this effect for applying relatively small quantities of coloring matter to the filamentary material during crimping in order to mark and characterize the material (color-coding) for further operational steps. Of course, instead of coloring matter other suitable matter can be dissolved in the liquid, for instance for treating the filamentary material as desired.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Te invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMODIMENTS Discussing the drawing now in detail it will be seen that the novel apparatus, with which the novel invention can be carried into effect, comprises a tubular member 1 into which the crimping chamber 5 is inserted. The crimping chamber Sis configurated, asparticularly clearly evident from FIG. 3, of a plurality of lamellae 6 which are mounted at their opposite ends in annular mounting members 7 and 8; these lamellae 6 are in form of elongated strips, for instance of a suitable steel or the" like, and their inwardlydirecte'd edges (note that they are arrangedin star-shaped 'configuration) define between themselves the chamber 5, and successive onesof the lamellae definewith each other the radially directed-longitudinally, extending venting ports 2 whose cross-section increases in radially outward direction. I i

At opposite axial endsthe tubular member 1 is provided with an inlet nipple 3 for hot fluid, usually hot gas such as air, and an inlet nipple 4 for cool fluid, usually cool gas such' as air. A valve 24 permits the supply of hot fluid to be throttled or stopped, and the conduit connecting the supply with the inlet nipple 3.is provided'with a pressure indicating device 25' and a thermometer 27 as well as a regulating valve 26. The operation of these various devices, and the manner in which the supply of hot fluid and the temperature thereof can be kept constant inautomatic manner with the aid of these devices, has been disclosed in the aforementioned copending application to which may be had for details.

Similarly, the conduit communicating with the inlet 4 I ted liquid) will radially vent in that portion of the chamber 5 which in FIG. 1 is the lower portion.

Asupply tube 9 is provided communicating with the inlet of the chamber 5 and having in turn an inlet end which is wider and which is provided with gas conduits l0 communicating w'ith'the nipple 3. The tube 9 carries the conduit 11' .forthe filamentary material, and the upper part of the tubular member 1 is surrounded by a housing 12 which is filled with a thermally insulating material 13 to reduce thermal losses as .much'as possi-.

ble. I

Communicating with thev outlet of chamber 5 is an outlet'tube 14 for the crimped filamentary material, configurated analogously to the tube 9 but having preferably a larger diameter than the inner diameter of the chamber 5,'which inner diameter of the chamber 5 in turn corresponds at least substantially to the inner diameter of the tube 9. The reason why the inner diameter of the tube 14 is preferably larger than that of the chamber 5 and of the tube 9 is that it'is desirable for the flow speed of the hot gas in the tube 9 tobe high because the hot gas of course is used to insert the filamentary material into the chamber 15, whereas a high flow speed in the tube 14with which the nipple 4 communicates and into which it discharges the cool gasis not desired. Located in a portion of the tube 14 which is spaced from theoutlet of the chamber 5 and provided with gas channels 15 for the stream of cool gas, is the filamentary material outlet nozzle .16 which is known to those skilled in the art. The lower part of the tubular member 1, and the part surrounding the chamber 5 is surrounded by a housing nipple 4 for coolfiuid is provided with a valve 28 by means of which the supply of cool fluid can be throttled or terminated, a pressureindicating device 29, a theremometer 31 and a regulating valve 30. Again, details for the operation of these devices analogous to that set forth above with respect to the devices for controlling the flow and temperature of the hot fluid, can be obtained from the aforementioned copending application.

There is further provided a liquid nozzle 32 which communicates with the conduit for the stream of cool air, upstream of the inlet nipple 4 as seen with respect to the direction of flow of the incoming cool fluid or air. A reservoir 34 for liquid'(usually water) is provided, and advantageously is located at a high enough level so that gravity feeding of liquid to the nozzle 32 is obtained. Interposed between the reservoir 34 and the nozzle 32 is a regulating-valve 33 for regulating the quantity of liquid flow, and liquid which enters the other nozzle 32 into the conduit for the cool gas becomes finely dispersed in the stream of cool gas and to the extent possible will vaporize therein.

Hot gas admitted via the inlet nipple 3 will radially vent through the ports 2 in the portion of the chamber 5 which is the upper portion in FIG. 1, and cool gas admitted via the inlet nipple 4 (and containing the admit:

17, 18 so as to form an outer chamber about the chamber 5. A suction conduit 19 communicates with this outer chamber and interposed in this suction conduit is a pressure indicating device 21 and a regulating valve 22; the suction-conduit communicates also with a ventilator 23 so-that gas vented through the ports 2 can be withdrawn from the outer chamber via the suction conduit 19. In a manner which is fully disclosed in the aforementioned copending application, the values measured by the device21 serve to control the operation of the valve 22 and thereby to control the quantity of gas which is withdrawn through the suction conduit 19, in order to permit maintenance of the pressure in the outer chamber at a constant level. It is in fact preferred, but not necessary, that this pressure bemaintained somewhat below the ambient atmospheric pressure to facilitate venting through the ports 2.

The filament or filamentary material is identified with reference numeral20 and it will be seen that it is sucked into the tube 1 by the effect of the stream of hot gas flowing through the tube 9. In the tube 9 it is heated by contact with the hot gas and inserted into the chamber 5. As soon as the hot gas enters the chamber 5 it will immediately vent radially outwardly through the ports 2, and the velocity loss accruing as a result of this to the increment of filamentary material which has just been inserted into the chamber 5, combined with the resistance exerted to its advancement by the cool gas which enters in the region of the chamber outlet end, causes the filament to be retarded and to beomce crimped by the push exerted by the following increment- In crimped configuration the filamentary material then passes through the chamber 5 and has its crimp fixed by the cool gasin which the liquid is dispersed. v

The crimped filamentary material with its crimp set is withdrawn in this condition through the tube 14, having to pass through the incoming cool gas which moves in counterflow to it, and the cooling as a result of the liquid content of the cool gas is particularly effective during such movement before the filamentary material is withdrawn in crimped condition through the outlet nozzle 16.

Because preferably the quantity and temperature of the hot and cold gases admitted into the chamber 5 are maintained constant, and because of the constant gas pressure maintained in the outer chamber which is surrounded by the housing portion 18, the forces acting upon the filamentary material in the crimping chamber 5 are very even and uniform, and a corresponding even and uniform crimping of the filamentary material is obtained. This crimping is rapidly and effectively fixed or set by the cool gas, and in particular by the fact that the cool gas contains the liquid which has been admitted into it.

The quantity of liquid admitted into the stream of cool gas depends upon the requirements of a given situation. If for instance a particularly even moistening of the filamentary material is desired, then only so much liquid is admitted into the cool gas that the stream of cool gas becomes saturated with the liquid vapor; in that case the liquid is available in vapor form as it contacts the filamentary material. On the other hand, if larger quantities of liquid are to be applied to the filamentary material, desirable or even necessary in many instances for the further processing of the filamentary material, or if a solution for instance of coloring matter is to be applied to the filamentary material, then the amount of liquid admitted into the stream of cold gas is selected so high that it is carried along in form of droplets in the stream of cool air, forming a fog" therein.

If the outer chamber surrounding the chamber 5 is to be maintained at sub-atmospheric pressure, then it is advantageous to maintain it at a pressure of between substantially 0.01 0.1 atmosphere.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in the crimping of filamentary materials, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. Apparatus for crimping filamentary materials,

, comrpising first means surrounding an elongated chamber having axially spaced inlets and outlets and peripheral venting ports therebetween; second means for entraining and inserting with a stream of hot gaseous fluid into said inlet a filamentary material to be crimped, so that such material advances towards said outlet and becomes crimped whereas said hot gaseous fluid vents through said venting ports; third means for admitting into said chamber in the region of said outlet and in counterflow to the direction of advancement of said filamentary material, a stream of cool gaseous fluid for subsequent venting through venting ports; and fourth means for admitting into said stream of cool gaseous fluid a liquid for fine dispersing of the latter in said stream of cool gaseous fluid.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said fourth means comprising a nozzle for admitting said liquid into said stream of cool gaseous fluid.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, said third means comprising an inlet nipple communicating with said chamber, and a supply conduit communicating with said inlet nipple; and wherein said nozzle communicates with said supply conduit upstream of said inlet nipple.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2; further comprising pressurizing means for pressuring said liquid, a feed conduit connecting said pressurizing means with said nozzle, and regulating means interposed in said feed conduit for regulating the flow of liquid through the latter.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said venting ports are radial venting ports.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said firwt means comprising a plurality of elongated lamellae having spaced axial ends and being arranged in form of an an-. nulus, with circumferentially adjacent lamellae defining respective gaps with one another; and mounting members engaging the respective opposite ends of said lamellae for maintaining the same in their relative positions.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said mounting members are of annular configuration.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said lamellae are steel strips.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the crosssection of the respective venting ports diverges in direction outwardly of said chamber.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said first means further comprises a tubular member surrounding the annulus of lamellae with clearance. 

1. Apparatus for crimping filamentary materials, comrpising first means surrounding an elongated chamber having axially spaced inlets and outlets and peripheral venting ports therebetween; second means for entraining and inserting with a stream of hot gaseous fluid into said inlet a filamentary material to be crimped, so that such material advances towards said outlet and becomes crimped whereas said hot gaseous fluid vents through said venting ports; third means for admitting into said chamber in the region of said outlet and in counterflow to the direction of advancement of said filamentary material, a stream of cool gaseous fluid for subsequent venting through venting ports; and fourth means for admitting into said stream of cool gaseous fluid a liquid for fine dispersing of the latter in said stream of cool gaseous fluid.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said fourth means comprising a nozzle for admitting said liquid into said stream of cool gaseous fluid.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, said third means comprising an inlet nipple communicating with said chamber, and a supply conduit communicating with said inlet nipple; and wherein said nozzle communicates with said supply conduit upstream of said inlet nipple.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2; further comprising pressurizing means for pressuring said liquid, a feed conduit connecting said pressurizing means with said nozzle, and regulating means interposed in said feed conduit for regulating the flow of liquid through the latter.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said venting ports are radial venting ports.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said firwt means comprising a plurality of elongated lamellae having spaced axial ends and being arranged in form of an annulus, with circumferentially adjacent lamellae defining respective gaps with one another; and mounting members engaging the respective opposite ends of said lamellae for maintaining the same in their relative positions.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said mounting members are of annular configuration.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said lamellae are steel strips.
 9. Apparatus as defineD in claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the respective venting ports diverges in direction outwardly of said chamber.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said first means further comprises a tubular member surrounding the annulus of lamellae with clearance. 